The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related crashes, fatalities and injuries.  FMCSA estimates that there are almost 700,000 motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce with approximately 8.5 million trucks.  Large trucks represent about four percent of registered vehicles; however, they account for eight percent of the travel volume on our Nation's highways.  The passenger carrier industry moves more passengers each year than the airline industry and includes approximately 4,000 interstate motorcoach companies.  Approximately 12 percent of all highway fatalities stem from crashes involving large trucks and buses.  In 2007, approximately 101,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks, down 4.7 percent from the 106,000 injuries in 2006.  Further, in 2007, 4,808 people died, down 4.4 percent from the 5,027 deaths in 2006.

While progress is being made toward FMCSA’s ongoing mission of saving lives and reducing injuries by preventing truck and bus crashes, too many people continue to be injured and die as a result of crashes involving large trucks and buses.  The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget for FMCSA, $549.9 million, will help meet this challenge and support Departmental efforts to reduce highway fatalities.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Budget
(Dollars In Millions)

Summary of FMCSA FY 2010 Increases and Decreases
(Dollars In Millions)

FY 2010 Budget

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), was enacted on August 10, 2005 and expires on September 30, 2009.  The Administration is developing a comprehensive approach for surface transportation reauthorization.  Consequently, the Budget contains no policy recommendations for programs subject to reauthorization.  Instead, the Budget conservatively displays baseline funding levels for all surface programs. 

Motor Carrier Safety Operations & Programs:  The budget includes $239.8 million to support critical motor carrier program activities that will reduce crashes, save lives, and prevent injuries on our Nation's highways. 

This account provides the necessary resources to support motor carrier safety program activities and maintain the Agency’s administrative infrastructure.  Funding supports nationwide motor carrier safety and consumer enforcement efforts, including Federal safety enforcement activities at the borders with Mexico and Canada.  FMCSA ensures that all carriers entering the United States are in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Materials Regulations.  Resources are also provided to fund motor carrier regulatory development and implementation, information management, research and technology, safety education and outreach, and the 24‑hour safety and consumer telephone hotline.

Motor Carrier Safety Grants:  The budget includes $310 million to maintain aggressive State enforcement of interstate commercial truck and bus regulations as part of the Federal/State partnership aimed at meeting DOT's safety strategic goal.  Motor Carrier Safety Grants support both Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Hazardous Materials Safety.

This account provides the necessary resources to award and manage state grants that support the agency’s mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.  Grants are used to support compliance interventions in states, identify and apprehend traffic violators, conduct roadside inspections, support safety audits on new entrant carriers, and ensure that technology and data are leveraged for optimum effectiveness and efficiency.